On 13 May 2016, ASEAN-China Entrepreneurs’ Conference (ACE) 2016 was closed with complete success in Kuching, Malaysia. ACE 2016 was co-hosted by Sarawak Entrepreneur Association (SEA), the ASEAN-China Center (ACC), the Government of Sarawak, the Malaysian Ministry of Trade and Investment (MITI) and University of Sarawak. About 500 people participated in the event, including Dr. Sim Kui Hian, representative of Chief Minister of Sarawak, Dr. Rebecca Fatima, Secretary-General of MITI, Mr. Fu Jijun, Chinese Consul-General in Kuching, and Mr. Simon Wong, Chairman of SEA. ACC Secretary-General H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping led a Chinese entrepreneur delegation to the conference. She delivered a keynote speech about supporting the development of SMEs, and had comprehensive discussion with representatives.
Government officials, scholars and representatives from business associations and enterprises in ASEAN, China, Britain and Brazil made a thorough discussion, exchanged experience and exploring business opportunities throughout the sessions. The topics of the conference included development strategy of SMEs, ASEAN-China market opportunity, ASEAN single airline market, development path of enterprises in different countries, e-commerce and logistic sector development, investment policy in ASEAN and China as well as business environment.
The attendees reached a consensus that ASEAN-China market had a huge potential and a broad perspective of development. With the realization of ASEAN Community and further implementation of Belt and Road initiatives, ASEAN-China bilateral cooperation faced very good opportunities. SMEs played increasingly important roles in social and economic development in their own countries. They represented the main force to promote economic and trade cooperation and arising vitality of national economic and social development.
Faced with the complicated and serious global and regional economic situation, SMEs should enhance communication and cooperation in fast-growing emerging sectors, such as e-commerce and logistics. Entrepreneurs spoke highly of the achievements of China in terms of economic development, and expected to explore new business opportunities through Belt and Road construction. Brazil representative briefed on the opportunities of Belt and Road construction to Latin American enterprises and their expectations in having in-depth cooperation with ASEAN and China enterprises.
More than fifty Chinese entrepreneurs from Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, Jiangsu, Hubei, Guangdong, Inner-Mongolia, Hunan, Henan and Guizhou attended the conference. The sectors ranged from energy and construction, to technology and food processing.
Yangzhou Enterprises Oversea Expansion Promotion Association and SEA signed a MOU for cooperation and agreed to cooperate in road construction projects with Indonesian companies. After the sessions some Chinese representative visited potential local cooperation partners and made field trip to get familiar with local business environment.
ACE 2016 has been a top-level business event that ACC had been engaged in since it was founded 4 years ago in terms of its scale, number of participants and its broad impact. It had provided business communities with premium and effective service for further communication and cooperation.